Federer on verge of history at French Open

ROGER Federer is standing on the precipice of greatness after an enthralling five-set victory over Juan Martin Del Potro but needed all of his nine lives to get there.

BACK FROM THE BRINK: Roger Federer is just one match away from joining the pantheon of tennis greats

For someone who once made winning look so gloriously simple, the former world number one has developed a habit for doing things the hard way.

Federer was forced to come from one set down and two sets to one down against an inspired Del Potro before securing a momentous 3-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory.

The second seed will now face Sweden's Robin Soderling, who has blazed a trailed of destruction at Roland Garros ever since he dumped world number Rafael Nadal out of the last 16.

Indeed, since that moment, Federer has been installed as the favourite. Never has the opportunity to capture the one Grand Slam that has eluded him for so long been so good.

Since Nadal ended his reign of terror at Wimbledon last year, Federer has lost his invincibility . He was knocked off his pedestal and forced to scrap among the rest of field.

Scrapping did not come naturally to the elegant Swiss star and a permanent fall from grace looked a distinct possibility.

But throughout his stay at Roland Garros this year, it has been Federer's fighting instincts that have seen him through when his liquid forehand and impeccable backhand have at times let him down.

And against Del Potro, a plucky 20-year-old, it was more of the same.

The Argentine raced out of the blocks in the opening set and stormed into a 6-3 lead - his vibrancy and his energy too much for Federer - who had already been taken the distance by Tommy Haas in the last 16.

In the eyes of the Roland Garros faithful, Federer's name is already on the trophy this year but with his booming serve and superb court coverage, Del Potro threatened to ruin the party.

Federer clung on in a second set in which he was, for the most part, second best. He forced a tie-break before coming to life and levelling the scores.

But the Swiss ace could not exert his dominance on the match and it was the world number five who secured an early break in the third set and romped into a 2-1 lead - Federer was hanging by a thread.

Beware the wounded animal however. He came out all guns blazing in the fourth and found his range to take the set 6-1 to force a fifth and decisive set.

An early break for the people's champion in the final set took Federer one step closer to victory but Del Potro was not finished at restored parity at 3-3.

As the sun went down in Paris, and with the Roland Garros faithful on tender-hooks, the marathon match continued.

Federer showed nerves of steel to hold serve before Del Potro, at break point down, double-faulted to hand Federer the advantage - one he grabbed with both hands to book his place in the final.

After such a grueling encounter Federer will not have a great deal left in the tank and in Soderling he will face an express train in mesmeric form.

He is nowhere near the form that put him at the summit of world tennis between 2004 and 2008 but Federer has had ice running through his veins in the face of adversity and his will to win burns more brightly than ever.